Bartlett's Neck Hurts

No Jason Bartlett tonight. He’s got a stiff neck that’s been getting worse, and now it’s become painful enough to keep him out of the lineup.

“He’s not taking batting practice today -- that should tell you how he feels,” Ron Gardenhire said of the normally work-intensive shortstop. He doesn’t expect the problem to last more than a day or two, though.

Bartlett’s absence allows Gardenhire to move Nick Punto to shortstop for another day. The third baseman will be Luis Rodriguez, though, not Jeff Cirillo. I imagine that’s because Gardenhire is already planning to play Cirillo at first base on Tuesday (and give Justin Morneau a DH day), and doesn’t want his knee to be overworked.

Lineups:

TWINS
Castillo 2b
Punto ss
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond c
Kubel dh
Ford lf
Rodriguez 3b

Silva p

RANGERS
Lofton cf
Young ss
Teixeira 1b
Sosa rf
Cruz lf
Catalanotto dh
Kinsler 2b
Laird c
Vazquez c
Padilla p